Caicedo to Chelsea: Winners and Losers of £115M Record Transfer

Chelsea have reportedly sealed an agreement with Brighton and Hove Albion for the British record transfer of defensive midfielder, Moises Caicedo.

It ends a dramatic transfer saga of the last three days, in which Liverpool tried to hijack the move from the grasp of the Blues, who have courted the player for months, but the Ecuadorian preferred Stamford Bridge.

The two sides opened the Premier League season against each other with extra bad blood infused into the game, with respective American owners, Todd Boehly and John Henry, in attendance.

Sports Brief looks at the winners and losers of the record deal, which of course, was not without extra tweaks and twists.

Winners

1. Brighton and Hove Albion

The selling club that managed to instigate a bidding war, of course, is the biggest winner. According to The Athletic's Andy Naylor, Brighton signed Caicedo from Independiente del Valle for £4 million in January 2021.

Two-and-a-half years later, they've profited £111mil in theory, which could be less due to conditions of add-ons and percentage sell-on to his former club.

2. Independiente del Valle

The Ecuadorian club inserted a 20% sell-on clause in the deal that took the player to England and are now set to receive a further £23mil on top of what they initially sold the player. The club have their stars to thank for the player who grew up and became a subject of a battle between big clubs.

3. Moises Caicedo

The 21-year-old from Santo Domingo, Ecuador - a city of a little over 500,000 people - is the most expensive British transfer; not in his wildest dreams he would have imagined that. He got his dream move to follow in the footsteps of his idol, N'golo Kante, and also a better payday.

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His stance on wanting only Stamford Bridge helped the Blues to secure his services on an eight-year contract, plus an option of another year.

4. Brighton fans

The South Coast fans have ceaselessly trolled the Blues, who have become obsessed with their club since Boehly took over. As noted by Evening Standard's Nizaar Kinsella, the Amex inhabitants have received £218mil from the Stamford Bridge landlords, including the fee paid for Graham Potter and his crew, who were sacked seven months later.

Their fans will continue rubbing this in Chelsea's face due to their Europa League involvement, with the Blues missing out on Europe after finishing 12th, a position Roberto De Zerbi mocked them for.

Losers

1. Chelsea

The Blues may appear like they came out with their priority transfer target, but nothing screams 'loser' than overpaying for a player because you claimed not to want to overpay in the first place.

Brighton were clear from the start: £100mil or nothing, but the London club stood at £80mil, eventually going £25mil over their initial stance and £15mil over the Seagulls' valuation - and still getting a ridiculous sell-on clause inserted, as noted by The Athletic's David Ornstein.

2. Liverpool

How do you explain unwillingness to spend £50mil on Romeo Lavia, then submitting a bid of £111mil for Caicedo? Yes, that is Liverpool. They are set to miss out both as Chelsea are advanced in their pursuit of the Belgian midfielder but The Guardian reports the Anfield outfit have agreed £60mil for the 19-year-old, £5mil more than Chelsea's fee.

Di Marzio reported that Caicedo's move to Chelsea would have been announced before the two sides met at Stamford Bridge, but Brighton held on out of respect for the Reds.

3. Chelsea and Liverpool fans

The Reds fans took a massive slap to the face after their initial flamboyance, only for the player to turn their club down, but at least they know their owners have money to spend now.

The Blues fans who would be ashamed of themselves were those who were convinced that signing Robert Sanchez for £25mil would help them get a discount for Caicedo. How hilarious.

Chelsea vs Liverpool talking points

Sports Brief previously analysed the talking points from Chelsea versus Liverpool, which fans famously dubbed El Caicedo, due to the transfer battle between the Premier League clubs.

Both sides' lack of defensive cover in midfield proved they needed the Ecuadorian midfielder after the Blues played Conor Gallagher and Liverpool played Alexis Mac Allister in in defence.